Chris talked to club members about his experience in Beijing, had photos taken with the club’s youngsters whilst proudly showing off his silver medal, and handed out trophies to the award winners.

Rachel Gair, Chris Brown and Steve Lisgo took the trophies for senior athletes of the year and were also rewarded with club bursaries for reaching the Olympic trials.

Lee Peters was awarded the Veteran track and field athlete of the year for his performances in the Javelin which included a GB veteran call up for the Interland match.

Consistency awards went to James Mee and Richard Woolley and to Laura Bennett and Miriam Tedder whilst the Chris Constable Trophy for female road running was awarded to Vanda Curley.

Veteran of over 200 road races in the last year Trevor Hiscox was rewarded with the overall male veteran of the year whilst the female award went to Maddy Collinge, winner of many age group races in the last year.

The veteran cross country trophies were awarded to Doug Ross and Carol Hartin whilst the road awards went to winner of lots of over 60 races Brian Harris and to Chris Huntington for her all round commitment.

Laura Bennett, James Mee and Sam Cordin were recognised as the outstanding U20 athletes – Bennett for her all round performance, Mee as the junior performer having competed in every distance from 400m Hurdles to Half Marathon, and Cordin for his continued improvement on the track.

At U17 level hurdlers James Hardy and Adam Sansom took the performer and improver awards respectively whilst Daniel Ward was team player.

On the girls side Discus thrower Charlotte Gair took the performer award on the back of her third place at the UK School Games and fourth place at the English Schools Championships with Amie Grainger, setting new PBs in four events as well as making a promising debut on the road, being rewarded with the Improver award. Emily Reeve took the team player.

Newcomer Will Stone was recognised as Performer of the year for his efforts over 400m, 800m and 1500m whilst Tom O’Mara and Tom Wallet took the Improver and Team player awards.

Another newcomer was recognised when Chloe Elphick took the girls Team Player award with Rachel Brandham’s achievements as double county champion on the track and winner of all four North Midlands cross country races being recognised with the Improver award. Becky Woolley, ranked eighth in the UK at Javelin, was awarded the Performer in this age group.

Sam Johnson’s performances on the track and over cross country won him the U13 Performer award with Jack Foster’s improvements over 100m and 200m recognised with the Improver Award.